Marks of True Spiritual Service:
Humility

Romans 1:12

“…that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.”

(Verse 12) - Lest his readers think that he had in mind a one-way blessing, Paul assures them that a visit would be to his benefit as well as theirs. Although he was a highly-gifted and greatly-used apostle, having received revealed truth directly from God, Paul never thought that he was above being spiritually edified by other believers.

The truly thankful, concerned, willing, submissive, and loving spirit is also a humble spirit. The person with such a spirit never has a feeling of spiritual superiority and never lords it over those he serves in Christ’s name.

That is. - This does not mean that what follows is intended as an explanation of what he had just said, for to those whom Paul addressed it must have been sufficiently clear; but is a modification of it respecting his purpose, lest he should appear to consider them as not well instructed or established in their faith. For although he always acted faithfully, no one, as is evident from his writings, was ever more cautious to avoid unnecessary offense. He therefore joins himself with those to whom he wrote, and refers to the advantage which he also expected reciprocally to derive from them. It is no valid objection to understanding it to be a miraculous gift which he desired to communicate, that he hoped for mutual advantage and comfort with those whom he was about to visit. This comfort or confirmation which he looked for, was not from a spiritual gift to be bestowed by them, but would be the effect of their confirmation; by the gift they received through him. The gift, too, bestowed by him, would be a new proof of the power of God in him, and of His mercy and grace in enabling him to exert such power. He would be comforted and strengthened in witnessing their faith in respect to his own labors in his ministry, by seeing the kingdom of God advancing more and more, and with respect to his numerous afflictions to which he was on all hands subjected, and also in contrasting the coldness and weakness of many of which he often complains, when he observed the increasing power of Divine grace in the saints at Rome. On the other hand, they would derive from Paul’s presence the greatest consolation from his instructions in the mysteries of salvation, from his exhortations, which must contribute much to their edification, as well as from his example, his counsels, and his prayers. It is thus the duty of Christians to confirm each other in the faith; and their mutual intercourse makes known the faith that each possesses. They see that their experience answers as face answers to face in a glass; and by beholding the strength of faith in their brethren, Christians are edified and confirmed.

The one singular effect of religion is to produce the desire of the communion of saints. It is the nature of Christianity to seek the society of those who are the friends of Christ.  We want to be with each other and to share in the common faith we each have and to see that faith worked out and demonstrated in the lives of others.  Christianity is designed to function in this way.  We not only desire it, we need it!  It is essential that we fellowship together and that we demonstrate to each other the true nature of the work of God in our lives.

nothing is better suited to produce growth in grace than such communion. Every Christian should have one or more Christian friends to whom he may unburden himself. No small part of the difficulties which young Christians experience would vanish, if they should communicate their feelings and views to others. Feelings which they suppose no Christians ever had, which greatly distress them, they will find are common among those who are experienced in the Christian life.  This is certainly true of us older believers as well.  Much of the burden that we bear would vanish, or surely be lessened if we would avail ourselves of the mechanism that God has provided for the bearing of those burdens – the fellowship of the saints!

there is nothing better suited to excite the feelings, and confirm the hopes of Christian ministers, than the firm faith of young converts, of those just commencing the Christian life, (3 John 1:4).  Nothing is more encouraging to me, as a Pastor, than to see a young believer acting in faith, growing and maturing in Christ, following after Him in holy and righteous obedience. 

It was not merely to confirm them that Paul wished to come. He sought the communion of saints; he expected to be himself edified and strengthened; and to be comforted by seeing their strength of faith, and their rapid growth in grace.  Note the degree of modesty his pious heart submitted itself, so that he was not ashamed or too proud to seek confirmation from inexperienced beginners: nor did he speak discouragingly, for, indeed, as Calvin noted, there is no one so void of gifts in the Church of Christ, who is not able to contribute something to our benefit: but we are hindered by our envy and by our pride from gathering such fruit from one another. Such is our high-mindedness, such is the cloudy thinking produced by vain reputation, that despising and disregarding others, every one thinks that he possesses what is abundantly sufficient for himself.

Humility, in the biblical world is a value that directs persons to stay within their inherited social status, specifically by not presuming on others and avoiding even the appearance of lording over another. Humble persons do not threaten or challenge another’s rights, nor do they claim more for themselves than has been duly allotted them in life. They even stay a step below or behind their rightful status (e.g., the ‘unworthy’ John the Baptist, Mark 1:7). Thus humility is a socially acknowledged claim to neutrality in the competition of life. Conversely, to attempt to better oneself at the expense of others, to acquire more than others, to strive for honors others currently enjoy are all instances of proud and arrogant behavior. God humbles such proud people (Matt. 23:12; Luke 18:14; see Deut. 8:2, 16), while he exalts the humble (Luke 1:52; 14:7-11); hence humility has precedence over honor (Prov. 15:33; 18:12). To humble or humiliate others is to shame them (e.g., Dinah in Gen. 34:2; Isa. 2:9, 11, 17). To humble or humiliate oneself is to declare oneself powerless to defend one’s status (e.g., Phil. 2:9) and then to act accordingly—either factually by becoming powerless, like the lowborn, or ritually, by a rite in which the use of power is set aside, symbolized by behavior typical of the lowborn: fasting, rending garments, weeping, lamenting, confession (e.g., Lev. 26:41; 1 Kings 21:29; 2 Kings 22:8-20; Ps. 69:10). Such self-humiliation before God is praiseworthy (e.g., Prov. 3:34; James 4:10; 1 Pet. 5:5-6; 2 Cor. 12:21) and obtains God’s help. While Jesus is no arrogant teacher (Matt. 11:29), he does not exhort to traditional self-humiliation but simply to avoid challenging the honor of others (Matt. 23:12; Luke 14:11; 18:14), in that way acting as though one were as powerless to do so as a child (Matt. 18:4). Such humility is highly valued (Eph. 4:2; Col. 3:12).

Peter warned elders not to lord it over those given to their care but rather to be examples to them. In doing so, “when the Chief Shepherd appears, [they would] receive the unfading crown of glory” (1 Pet. 5:3-4). He then went on to advise both older and younger men to clothe themselves “with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (v. 5).  Servants live among God’s people as one of them. They do not use their position to lift themselves above others.

Paul, the greatest theologian who ever lived, was also one of the most humble men of all. He was blessed beyond measure, yet he had no spiritual pride or intellectual arrogance. Because he had not attained spiritual perfection but genuinely pursued it (cf. Phil. 3:12-14), he was eager to be spiritually helped by all the believers in the Roman church, young as well as old, mature as well as immature.

It is unfortunate not only that many learned and gifted leaders in the church think they are above learning from or being helped by younger and less-experienced believers but also unfortunate that less-experienced believers often feel they have nothing to offer their leaders.

When he was about to board a ship to India to begin missionary service there, some of William Carey’s friends asked if he really wanted to go through with his plans. Expressing his great desire for their support in prayer, he is said to have replied, “I will go down [into the pit itself] if you will hold the rope” (S. Pearce Carey William Carey [London: The Carey Press, 1934], pp. 117-18).

Real ministry can only occur in the context of the presence of real humility on the part of the minister.  This is the example of Christ, and it must be the focus of my heart as I seek to minister to those to whom God has sent me.